Natalie Lambert is the founder of Savoir Faire Media, a creative branding and multi-media agency. She sat down with us to talk about her company, her vision and her passion for helping mid-sized companies realize their potential.

Tell us a little about yourself and your company. Who is Natalie Lambert, what does Savoir Faire do?
I have been married to my best friend for 11 years, and we have two wonderful and wild girls. You can expect to find our car, house, or backyard full of neighborhood children at any given time on the weekends. I love to read, and you can be sure there is an audio-book playing whenever I design. I love all things mid-century modern and retro, and it definitely shows in some of our best designs. My escape is watching movies, which is rare, but a treat when I can find some time to myself, and it is not uncommon for me to watch a favorite over and over again and still enjoy it immensely. I am a self-confessed email and Facebook addict, but awareness is the first step, right?

Falls Church Farmers Market Chef Demonstration Program Founder Kathleen Nixon is a hyper-local advocate for farm-to-table education and outreach − no matter what the season.

 When most people think of a farmers market, they tend to think the markets usually close once the fall season comes around. Many folks don’t realize that quite a number of the farmers markets in our area remain open during the winter months. In fact, according to Falls Church Farmers Market Chef Demonstration program founder Kathleen Nixon, about more than half of the local markets stay open with reduced hours in the colder months.

Ellen Weiss is a celebrated journalist and three time Peabody Award winner. After joining NPR in 1982, she went on to run the NPR news desk and eventually became the Vice President for news in 2007. Ellen is now the Executive Editor for the Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, non-partisan investigative news agency that that seeks to highlight significant public issues and to make institutional power more transparent and accountable.

One of D.C.’s most recognizable faces, Barbara joined News4 in 1981, where she focused on child health issues and hosting a weekly segment called “Wednesday’s Child,” which features children available for adoption. Barbara quickly rose to become the morning anchor and remained with News4 for the next 28 years, becoming a part of the fabric of D.C.’s cultural cloth.

Lauren DeSantis is the host of Capital Cooking with Lauren DeSantis, which has fast become the must-see show for local foodies.

The show highlights some of the most exciting culinary and cultural traditions in the richly diverse Metropolitan D.C. area. We spoke to Lauren about her show, her favorite chefs and restaurants, and her travels across the globe.

Story producer and longtime comedian Heather McDonald of the top rated evening comedy show Chelsea Lately gabs about career growth, balancing family and what's next...

As usual, I'm often knee deep in 20 million things when out of nowhere, I get my regular "Ali Vonal, Editor" email with a new writing assignment for I Am Modern Magazine. I love the "please-write-thisarticle- for-us-Mayra" emails from Ali. Th ey are always a very welcome interruption from the crazy, hectic nature of my work days.

Six heart surgeries and three pacemakers later, Tammy Goddard reveals what it’s like to not just survive but thrive and flourish beyond extraordinary circumstances.

Do you have a thing for love stories? Do you enjoy tales of human achievement and inspiration?

Well, you’re in luck. I’ve got both genres right here and, trust me, you may not make it past the first few sentences in this piece without a tissue or two handy.

Tina Johnson is the President and CEO of Johnson Promotion & Events, a full service event management company, and the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Loudoun Interfaith Relief.

Tell us about your experience in philanthropy.

Giving back is very important to me. It is one of my primary core values. I feel that it is part of my responsibility to get involved and be a part of my community. Not everyone can make huge cash donations, but everyone can give an hour or two of his or her time. There are so many non-profits in the region that need the support of their residents, businesses and civic leaders. Today’s nonprofits are expected to do more, serve more and provide more with dwindling resources.

We spoke to Karen Schaufeld, President of 100 Women Strong, a nonprofit that allocates funds to Loudoun County residents in need.

You’ve started two non-profit organizations, All Ages Read Together and 100 Women Strong. What was your motivation to give so much of your time and energy to the non-profit world?

If we pay attention, we are given opportunities to add value to the world around us. I have always loved to read, and so I was particularly attracted to the challenge of literacy, especially for children who otherwise would enter school with a big deficit. And using older volunteers from the community− an underutilized resource − to help an underserved population seemed like a nobrainer and a win-win situation. The positive effect on members of our community is invaluable and could be accomplished at a very low cost. And I always like doing things a little differently and a little smarter.

“The downturns are important,” says Carolyn Severo, business director for Aesthetica Cosmetic Surgery and Laser Center, two Radiance Salons and Medi-Spas. As she says this, the stock market is plummeting amid fears over the United States’ diminished credit rating and the precarious state of Europe’s economies. Yet Severo sits comfortably composed with her sophisticated black dress still crisp − victorious over the day’s humidity. She leans forward and, with a voice as welcoming and cool as ice water on a hot day, says, “Because that’s how you learn what is important.” This is not just business speak for Severo. It is wisdom culled from multiple experiences − professional and personal − that, encountered individually, could derail a person’s life. Perhaps it is a quality she learned while selling accident insurance door-to-door in college, or maybe it is something innate, but Severo does not get derailed. She forges ahead, clear on her destination and mindful of how best to get there.